Kinesiology,
as it is known in physical education, is the science of human
motion. In the early days of physical education, the content of
a course in human motion was confined chiefly to functional anatomy
and subjective evaluation of movement. gradually, as sports emerged
as a amore integral part of the physical education curriculum,
the concept of human motion has broadened to include the study
of mechanical principles which applied to sport techniques. The
principles were applied not only to the movement of the body itself,
but also to the movements of the projectiles related to the various
sports.

The state
of our knowledge in Biomechanics is rapidly growing primarly due
to better computer technology. Any growth must, however, have
as its base a foundation of laws. theories and principles which
are grounded in the study of the mechanical nature of human movement.
This textbook is designed with the undergraduate kinesiology major
in mind. It is not intended to be the end-all text for graduate
studies. We deliberately kept the concepts simple enough to be
easily understood by students who tend to have less backgkround
in mathematics and physics. The text takes the student through
foundational concepts and solutions that could be reached using
basic algebra and trigonometry tools.

A great deal
of time, experience, and research has gone into the preparation
of this book. The authors are gratefully to the many students
of kinesiology who have contributed to this work through their
athletic prowess, scholarly insight, and research efforts. A special
word of thanks goes to the late Dr. Linus Dowell for his initial
development of this book and for his active role in much of the
research thart went into it. Dr. Dowell will be missed, but fondly
remembered, by those who were fortunate enough to sit in his classes
and to serve as his colleagues.

Chapter 8: QUALITATIVE—VISUAL ANALYSIS
Select the Optimal Vantage Point
Simplify the Movement
Establish and Maintain the Correct Body Poisition
Flexibility Should be Maintained throughout the Motion
Mechanical Analysis of Sport Skills
Contributions of Research in the Kinemechanics Laboratory at
Texas A&M University to Principles of Mechanics
Study Questions
Selected References of Reserve Studies Completed in the Kinemechanics
Laboratory at Texas A&M University